Contrivance for use in pressing pleats in skirts and the like



Oct. 29, 1957 s. E. coUcHMAN CONTRIVANCE FOR USE 'IN PRESSING PLEATS 1N SHIRTS AND THE um 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 20, 1955 Oct. 29, 1957 s. E. coUcHMAN coNTRvANcE FOR USE IN PREssING PLEATS 1N SKIRTS AND 'mE LIKE; Filed sept. 2o, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. 22. b

F/G/O.

United States Patent O CONTRIVAN CE FOR USE IN PRESSING PLEATS IN SKIRTS AND THE LIKE Stephen Edward Couchman, Petone, New Zealand Application September 20, 1955, Serial No. 535,438

9 Claims. (Cl. 38-12) The invention relates to a contrivance for use in pressing pleats in skirts and the like (hereinafter referred to as skirts).

The pressing of pleats in skirts after cleaning in dry cleaning establishments has for long presented a problem. For reasons of economy and speed of output such establishments make extensive use of steam pressing machines of the type comprising a bottom pad or platen supported on a table, bench or pedestal, and a top pad or presserhead movable downwardly towards and upwardly away from the bottom pad. These machines do not, however, lend themselves to the expeditious pressing of pleats in skirts. Up to now it has been the usual custom, when using such machines for the purpose in question, to pin or tack each pleat prior to insertion of the skirt, one pleat at a time, between the pads of the machine. The complete operation is not only a tedious one but takes a considerable amount of time to perform-approximately one hour for a fully pleated skirt.

The object of the invention is to provide a contrivance which can be used in conjunction with existing steam pressing machines of the type in question, and by the aid of which pleat-pressing operations can be performed in such machines just as effectively as hitherto, but much more expeditiously. Tests have proved that with aid of the contrivance of the invention, a complete pleating operation on a fully pleated skirt can be carried out in approximately fifteen minutes. Notwithstanding this important advantage, the contrivance of the invention remains of simple form, its cost of manufacture being far outweighed by the time and trouble that it saves.

T he contrivance of the invention comprises a support, means for securing the support to the table, bench or pedestal of a steam pressing machine of the type referred to, and an elongated member with which a skirt can be engaged so that the said member defines a line along which a pleat is to be pressed, the elongated member being mounted for a hinging movement on the support so that when the support is secured to the table, bench or pedestal of the pressing machine, the elongated member can be swung into and out of the space existing between the pads of the machine when the top pad is raised.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two forms of the contrivance according to the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the first form of the contrivance when attached to a pressing machine of the type in question, the elongated member being shown in its inoperative position;

Figure 2 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow Il in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan view taken along the line lIl--III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, to an enlarged scale, on the line IV--IV of Figure l, the view illustrating a detail;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, also to an enlarged scale, on the line V--V of Figure l, the view illus- Atrating a further detail;

Patented Oct, 29, 1957 ice Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view again to an enlarged scale, on the line Vl-Vl of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the second form of the contrivance when attached to a pressing machine of the type in question, the elongated member being shown in its inoperative position;

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the contrivance shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow IX in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional View, to an enlarged scale, on the line X-X of Figure 7,Y the view illustrating a detail;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, also to an enlarged scale, on the line XI-Xl of Figure S, the view illustrating a further detail;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view, again to an enlarged scale, on the line XII- XII of Figure 8, and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional View to an enlarged scale, illustrating a modification in the construction of the contrivance according to Figures 7 to l2.

Referring first to the drawings in general, but more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 7 and 9, the contrivance of the invention, in either one of its two forms, is designed for application to steam pressing machines of the type comprising a bottom pad or platen l supported on a table 2, and a top pad or pressure head 3 movable downwardly towards and upwardly away from the bottom pad. As shown in Figures l, 2, 7 and 9, the bottom pad 1 is arranged at a distance above the table 2, while Figures 2 and 9 also show that the front edge of the table 2 is situated forwardly of the front edge of the bottom pad 1, this arrangement being customary in pressing machines of the type in question. For convenience, the top pad 3 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 7 only.

The contrivance of the invention, in the form illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, includes a clamp comprising a reclining U-shaped member 4 adapted to be engaged over the front edge of the table 2 so that its upper jaw rests on the upper surface of the table while its lower jaw lies at a distance below the under surface of the table. VThe lower jaw is fitted with a hand-screw 5 enabling the member 4 to be fastened in a detachable manner over the front edge of the table 2.

To the upper jaw of the member i there is secured an upwardly extending socket tube 6 which forms a bearing for a horizontal tubular arm 7. To this end, one end portion 7a of the arm 7 is bent downwardly and is engaged slidably and rotatably in the socket tube 6, this arrangement enabling the arm 7 to be raised and lowered relatively to the socket tube and also to be swivelled in a horizontal plane about the axis of the tube. The socket tube 6 is fitted with a thumb-screw 8 the inner end of which bears on the portion 7a of the arm 7 as clearly shown in Figure 4, so as to lock the arm in a desired position of adjustment.

To reinforce the arm 7 against downward bending, a gusset 7b (Figure l) is secured to the lower edge of the arm, the gusset having a vertical edge lying in working contact with or close to the cylindrical outer surface of the socket tube 6.

The socket tube 6 and arm 7 provide a supportV for an elongated member in the form of a blade 9 of thin strip metal or other suitable stiff material, the blade being connected to the support by a hinge as will now be described.

The blade 9 normally stands on edge, its lower edge portion being engaged and secured within a slot formed in the upper edge of an elongated board 10 of plywood or other suitable stii material. The board is engaged between the arms of a bifurcated metal clip 11 arranged midway between the ends of the board and extending downwardly so that its crotch 11a lies below the lower edge of the board. The board l'is pivotally secured within the clip 11 by means of a pivot pin 12V so that the board and, with it, the blade 9, can be rocked, relatively to the clip, about the axis of this pin. The board 16 and its blade 9 are held in adjusted position relatively to theclip 11 by means of a bolt 13 which passes through holes in Vthe yarms of the clip and through an arcuate slot 14 formed in the board and generated from a radius having its centre at the axis of the pvot'pin 12, the bolt being fitted with a wing nut 15. Y Y

A`metal tube 16 is engaged rotatably in the arm 7 and has a portion projecting from the` free end of the arm. The crotch 11a of the clip 11 is engaged around Y this projecting portion of the tube 16 sorthat the arms of the clip normally extend upwardly, the crotch being secured to the projecting portion by means of screws 17 (Figures 1 and 6). With this arrangement, the tube. 16 actsl as a hinge-pin for the clip 11 which, inV turn, carries the board and blade 9, so that, from a positionl in` which the clip, board and blade project, as an assembly, upwardly from the arm 7 Vas shown in full lines in Figures 1,'2 and 3, this assembly can be swung downwardly towards and in line with the front edge of the bottom pad 1 of the machine as shownin dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3. In effect, therefore, the elongated member constituted by the blade 9, is mounted for a hinging movement on the support constituted by the arm 7 and socket tube 6. Y

The tube 16 is held against withdrawal from the arm V7 by means of a pin'18 (Figures l, 2 and 5) which is secured to the tube 16 and passes radially and with a working clearance through a transversely disposed slot 19 (Figure 5) formed in the side of the arm 7 nearest the bottom pad 1, the slot being of sufhcient length to per- Y mit the necessary amplitude of hinging movement to be Vimparted to the blade 9 as previously explained. Preferably, the upper end of the slot 19 isY so positioned that when the pin 18 is in engagement with this end, the

assembly of clip 11, board 1t) and'blade 9 will be inclinedV slightly Vtowards the operator of the machine, Vso that when the assembly is in its upright position, it will remain in this position of its own accord and will thus not swing'downwardly towards the bottom pad 1 until this movement is initiated by the operator.

The contrivance when constructed as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 1s applied and used as follows: Y

The contrivance is secured to thetable 2 of the pressing machine by engaging the U-shaped member 4 of theV clamp over the front edge of the table and then tightening the hand-screw 5, the clamp being arranged near one end of the table so that the arm 7 lies in front of and spaced from the bottom pad 1 of the machine. The thumb-screw 8 is now loosened and the arm 7 raised or lowered and rotated about the axis of the socket, tube 6 until it is brought to a position in which the blade 9 will lie at upon the front edge portion of the upper face of the bottom pad 1 when the assembly of blade 9, board 10 and clip 11 isY swung downwardly towards the bottom pad, about the axis of the arm 7, from the upright position shown in full lines in Figures l to 3 to the reclining position shown in dotted lines in these figures. Thethumb-screw 8 is now tightened t-o lock the arm 7 in its adjusted position.

The wing nut is next loosened and the board 10 then rocked about the pivot pin 12 so that when the assembly of blade 9, board 1t) and clip 11 is swung downwardly towards the bottom pad 1, the bladeV will overlap this pad equally from one end to the other, or one end of the blade will overlap the pad to a greater extent than the other end, according to requirements. `In this latter connection it will be appreciated that the pleats of a skirt usually taper from the hem'towards the waistband so CTI that they are wider at the hem than at the waistband. By suitably setting the board 10 relatively to the clip 11, the blade 9, when engaged with the bottom pad 1, will make allowances for this tapering, while ensuring that the pressing operation will be confined to, but be adequately performed upon, the part of the material included in one pleat only at a time.

Figure 3 shows in dotted lines various angular settings of the board 10 andV blade 9 relatively to the clipll. When the desired setting has been obtained, the wing nut 15 is tightened to maintain the setting. Y Y

When the desired adjustments to the Vcontrivance have been made, the blade 9, board 10 and clip l'assembly is brought to an upright position as depicted in Figures 1 to 3 and a pleat-pressing operation is performed by iirst'engaging the skirt lengthwise over the blade 9 so that the skirt is suspended from the blade and hangs down over each side thereof as well asover each side of the board 10 and clip 11 and then passes under the arm 7. Figure 2 shows somewhat diagrammatically in dotted lines part of the skirt 19 when engaged with the blade 9 as just explained. The skirt is now adjusted on the blade 9V until the free edge of the. blade lies along a line corresponding to the fold of a pleat to be pressed. In

' this connection it may be mentioned that previous pleating folds can usually be faintly seen after a pleated skirt has been dry cleaned. Y

It' will of course be understood that during adjustment of the contrivance and application of the skirt to the blade 9, the top pad 3 of the pressing machine will be in raised position.

When the skirt has been adjusted on the blade 10.- asV already explained, the assembly of blade 9, board 10 and clip 11 is swung downwardly so that one of the two portions of the pleat to be pressed is sandwiched between the front edge portion of the upper face of the'bottom pad 1 and one side of the blade, while the other portion of the pleat lies against the other side of the blade. The pressing machineris now operated to cause the top pad 3 to be lowered so that this pad comes into engagement with Vthe exposed portion of the pleat, the pressure then existing between the two pads causing both portions of the pleat to be pressed.

After the pleat has been pressed for the desired length of time, the top pad 3 of the machine is raised, and the assembly of blade 9, board 19 and clip 11 is thereupon swung upwardly. The skirt is Vthen adjusted on the blade ready for the next pleat-pressing operation, and the pressing steps are continued until all the pleats have been pressed.

As the succeeding pleats of a pleated skirt have their folds or peaks projecting outwardly and inwardly alternately, the usualV method of pressing the pleats is Vfirst to press each alternate pleat having its fold projecting outwardly, and then to turn the skirt inside out and press the remaining pleats. This method may be adopted when using the appliance described in the foregoing.

If desired, and as shown at the right-hand side of Figure l, the blade 9 maybe formed with a 'multiplicity of small perforations 2% which allowsteam from either one of the pads 1 and 3 to pass through the material of a pleat during the pressing operation.

Referring now to Figures 7 to l2, the form of they contrivance illustrated in these lfigures includes a clamp comprising a reclining U-shaped member 21 adapted to be engaged over the front edge of the table 2 so that its upper jaw rests on the upper surface of the table while its lower jaw lies at a distance below the under surface of the table. The lower jaw is fitted with ahand-screw 22 enabling the member-21 to be fastened in a detachable manner over the front edge of the table 2.

To the upper jaw of the member 21 there is secured an upwardly extending spigot 23 forming a support for a horizontal tubular arm 24. For ythis purpose, one end portion 24a of ,the arm 24 is bent downwardly and is engaged over the spigot 23, being secured to the latter by means of screws 25 (Figures 7, 8 and 10).

The spigot 23 and arm 24 provide a support for an elongated member in the form of a length of wire 26 or other suitable attenuated material. A length of ne gauge piano wire is suitable for the purpose, the wire being connected to the support by a hinge as will now be described.

The wire 26 is held in tensioned condition by a U- shaped frame comprising a horizontal tubular member 27 the end portions of which are bent upwardly to form arms 27a and 27b, the frame also including a reinforcing horizontal tubular member 28 spaced above the member 27 and having its ends joined to the arms 27a and 27b at a distance below the upper ends of the latter.

The arm 27a is made slightly longer than the arm 27h and a hook-bolt 29 passes freely through a hole in the arm 27a near the upper end of the latter, the hook of the bolt projecting from the inside edge of the arm 7a and the shank of the bolt being fitted with a wing-nut 30 bearing against the outside edge of the arm. In the upper end of the arm 2711 there is fitted a plug 31 formed with a groove 32 arranged in line with the hook of the bolt 29.

ne end oi' the wire 26 is fastened round a thimble 33 which is engaged over the hook of the bolt 29. From the hook-bolt, the wire extends along the U-shaped frame and then passes through the groove 32 in the plug 31, the end of the wire nearest the plug being fastened round a thimble 34 which is engaged over a pin 35 secured to and projecting from the outside edge of the arm 27b. It will be seen that, with this arrangement, when the wing-nut 3i) on the hook-bolt 29 is tightened, the wire 26 will be tensioned between the hook of the bolt and the pin 35 so that the wire will be stretched taut between the two arms 27a and 27b. When the wing-nut 30 is loosened, it will be possible to detach the thimble 33 at the corresponding end of the wire 26 from the hook of the bolt 29, it then being posible also to detach the thimble 34 at the opposite end of the wire from the pin 35, thereby enabling the wire readily to be renewed should this be necessary at any time.

As shown most clearly in Figure 12, the tubular members 27 and 23 of the U-shaped frame carrying the wire 26, are engaged between the arms of a U-shaped metal clip 36 which is arranged midway between the ends of the U-shaped frame and the crotch 36a of which lies at a distance below the tubular member 27. The clip 36 is connected to the U-shaped frame by means of a pivot pin 37 which passes through aligned holes in the upper end portions or" the arms of the clip and through a bearing hole in the tubular member 28, thereby enabling the frame to be rocked about the axis of the pivot pin 37 relatively to the clip. The frame is held in set position relatively to the clip 36 by means of a bolt 38 which passes through aligned holes formed in the arms of the clip at a position below the tubular member 27, the bolt being fitted with a wing-nut 39. When the wing-nut 39 is loosened, the U-shaped frame 27, 27a, 27b, 28 carrying the wire 26 can be rocked to a desired position about the axis of the pin 37. When the wing-nut 39 is tightened, the bolt 38 and wing-nut will act to draw the two arms of the clip 36 towards one another so that they exert a grip on the tubular member 37 and thus act to hold the U-shaped frame, and the wire 26 carried thereby, in set position.

The crotch 36a of the clip 36 passes under an end portion of a tube 40 and is secured to this portion by means of screws 41 (Figures 7, 8 and 12), the tube 40 being engaged rotatably in the free end portion of the arm 24. With this arrangement, the tube 40 acts as a hinge-pin for the clip 36 which, in turn, carries the assembly of U-shaped frame 27, 27a, 27b, 28 and wire 26. Hence, from a position in which the assembly projects upwardly as shown in full lines in Figures 7 to 9, the

assembly can be hinged downwardly towards the front edge of the bottom pad 1 of the pressing machine, as depicted in dotted lines in Figure 9.

The tube 4G is held against withdrawal from the arm 24 by means of a pin 42 which is secured to the tube and passes radially and with a working clearance through a slot 43 (Figures 8 and ll) formed in the side of the arm 24 nearest the bottom pad 1, the slot being of sufcient length to permit the necessary amplitude of hinging movement of the clip 36 and the parts carried by it. Preferably, the upper end of the slot 43 is so positioned that when the pin 42 is in engagement with this end, the clip 36 and the parts carried by it will be inclined slightly towards the operator of the machine so that when this assembly is in its upright position, it will remain in this position of its own accord and will thus not swing downwardly towards the bottom pad 1 unless movement in this direction is intentionally initiated by the operator.

On the side of the U-shaped frame 27, 27a, 27b, 28 nearest the pads 1 and 2 of the machine, there is mounted a closely wound and elongated coiled wire spring 44 (Figures 8, 9 and l2) similar to the coiled wire springs well known for use in suspending curtains. The spring 44 lies parallel with and close to one side of the tubular member 2S and, as most clearly shown in Figure 8, one end of the spring is anchored to a pin 45 secured to and projecting from the corresponding side or" the arm 27a, while the other end of the spring is fitted with a hook 46 detachably engaged over a pin 47 secured to and projecting from the corresponding side of the arm 27b. The spring 44 is made of such length initially that when its hook 46 is engaged with the pin 47, the spring will be in tension.

The contrivance when constructed as described with reference to Figures 7 to l2 is applied and used as follows:

The contrivance is secured to the table 2 of the pressing machine by engaging the U-shaped member 21 over the front edge of the table near one end of the latter so that the arm 24 lies in front of and spaced parallelly from the bottom pad ll of the machine, the hand-screw 22 then being tightened to hold the contrivance in position on the table. The parts are so dimensioned that when the clamp 21, 22 has been correctly secured to the table 2, and the clip 36 is swung downwardly Vtowards the bottom pad 1 about the aXis of the arm 24, the wire 26 will arrive at a position at which it will lie along the front edge portion of the upper face of the bottom pad 1. The wing nut 39 on the bolt 3S is now loosened to enable the U-shaped frame carrying the wire 26 to be rocked relatively to the clip 36 so that when the wire is in contact with the bottom pad 1, the wire will extend either parallelly with the front edge of this pad or will overlap the pad to a greater extent at one end than the other, according to requirements. When the desired setting has been obtained, the wing nut 39 is tightened. The provisions enabling the angular setting of the wire 26 to be varied relatively to the front edge of the bottom pad 1, enables the contrivance to cater for pressing operations on pleats which are of the same width throughout their lengths or taper from one end to the other, the latter condition usually obtaining with pleated skirts in which the pleats are narrower at the waistband than at the hem.

When the desired setting of the wire 26 has been obtained, the clip 36 and the parts carried by it are brought to an upright position as shown in full lines in Figures 7, 8 and 9, whereupon the hook 46 on the spring 44 is disengaged from the pin 47 and the spring is allowed to hang down freely from the pin 45. The contrivance is now ready to receive a pleated skirt for pressing.

To carry out a pleat pressing operation, the skirt is rst engaged lengthwise over the wire 26 so that the skirt is suspended from the wire and hangs down over each side of the tubular members 27 and 28 and of the clip 36 and then passes under the arm 24. The skirt s a line corresponding-to the fold'ofapleat to be pressed.

VIn this connection Vit `may bel VVremarked that previous pleating folds can'usually be faintly -seen after a pleated skirthas been dry cleaned. When the correct adjustment Y and the spring is drawn over the part of the skirt lyingV nearest to the pads of 'the pressing .machine After stretching vthe spring 44 sufficiently, the hook 46 at free end thereof is engaged over the pin 47, the spring thus being held in a tensioned condition and lying along onel side ofthe 'tubular member 2S, in which position it acts to hold the said part of the skirtY close to the member 2S, Ytherebypreventing this part of the skirt from billowing unduly and also ensuing that the skirt will not move trom'the position at which it has been set relatively to the wire 26. Figure 9V shows somewhat diagrammatically in dotted Vlines part of the skirt 19 when engaged with the wire 26 V'andalso when held under the spring 44.

It will of course be understood that while the skirt 19 is 'being engaged and `adjusted over the wire 26, the top pad 3 of the pressing machine will be in raised position.

Wheny the skirt has been applied to the contrivance as explained, the clip 36 and the parts carried by it are swung downwardly towards the bottom pad l about the axis of the arm 27, the position then being reached where one of the two portions of the pleat to be pressed lies directly on the front edge portion or" the upper face of the pad l, while the other portion of the pleat lies upon the iirst portion, the wire 26 at the same time extending Vbetween Vthe two portions along the fold line. The pressing machine is now operated to cause the top pad 3 to be lowered so that this pad comes into engagement with the exposed portion of the pleat, the pressure then existingbetween the two pads causing both portions of Vthe pleat to be pressed.

VWhile the wire 26 serves to sharply dene the fold liuc 'between the two portions of a pleat and also serves to carry 'the unpressed Yportions of the pleat into the space between the pads of the machine, the'wire at the same time offers no obstruction to ilow of steam from 'eitherV one of the pads through the material or the pleat during the pressing operation. Y

After one pleat has been pressed for the desired'length ottime, the top pad 3 of the machine isrraised, and the clip 36 and the'parts carried by it, including the wire 26, are swung upwardly to vertical position. The skirt is then adjusted on the wire to bring the next pleat into a position for pressing. In making this adjustment, it is 'unnecessary to detach the hook 46' on the spring 44 Vfrom the pin 47 as the spring has sufficient resiliency to enabie the material of the skirt to be pulled from under it in order to bring the next part of the skirt into pleatpressing position on the wire 26.

As the succeeding pleats of a pleated skirt have their folds or peaksY projecting outwardly and inwardly alternately, the method usually adopted in using the contrivance as described with reference to Figures 7 to 12, will Vbe to lirst press each alternate pleat having its fold or peak projecting outwardly, and then to turn the gan ment inside out and press the remaining pleats one after the other. Y

In the modiiication illustrated in Figure 13, instead lof the spigot 23 to which the portion 24a of the arm 24,1 is secured, being joined directly to the upper jaw of the U-shaped member 21 of the clamp, the spigot is formed with a Vfoott mounted for sliding movement on the upper jaw of the member 21. The foot-@ is secured adjustablyto the upper jaw by means of a bolt 49 which is slidably vengaged in a slot t? formed in the said jaw and is fitted with'a wing-nut 51 for tightening the bolt and thus holding the foot, and the parts carried by it, in a selected position. This arrangement gives amplitude for adjustment of the arm 24 relatively Vto the clamp 21, 22,

8 distance vbetween-the fro'ntredge of the bottom padland the front edge of the table 2 when the clamp .issecured to the table in diierent makes of pressing machines. Insteadof the Vportion 24a of the arm V24 being posi-V tively 'secured around the spigot 23 Vby means of the screws 25, this portion maybe mounted for a sliding androtational movement -around the spigot, a thumb screw Vthen being provided for holding the portion 24a in the desired position of adjustment. tude for adjustment of the arm 24 relatively tothe bot-V tom pad V1 of the machine after the clamp 21, 22 Yhas been secured to vvthe table 2 in the construction according to Figures 7 to 12, and for even further adjustment where themodication according to Figure 13 is also included.

What l do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

l. A device for use with a steam pressing machine in Y pressing pleats in skirts, comprising a clamp adapted to be secured to ythe -front edge portion of the table of Vthe steam pressing machine, a horizontally disposed arm arranged above and supported by said clamp, a hinged connection and an elongated member with which a skirt can be engaged so that said member denes a line along which a pleat is to be pressed, said elongated member being spaced above but supported on the horizontal arm'by means of said hinged connection so that said member can be swung downwardly into and upwardly out of the space existing between the pads of the pressing machine when the top pad is raised. f

2. A device for use with a steam pressing machine in pressing pleats in skirts, comprising a clamp adapted to be secured to the front edge portion of the table of the steam pressing machine, a horizontally disposed arm arranged above and supported by said clamp,.an elongated F board arranged above said arm, an elongated blade carriedV by and projecting edgewise from Ysaid board and with which a skirt can be engaged so that the blade defines a line along which a pleat is to be pressed, and a clip one end of which is connected to said board while the other end is hinged to said horizontal arm so that the blade can be swung about said hinge downwardly into and up-V wardly out of the space existing between the pads of the pressing machine when the top pad is raised.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the clamp is provided with an upwardly extending socket tube and the horizontal arm is formed with a downwardly projecting end portion engaging slidably and rotatably in said socket tube, the tube being fitted with a thumb screw d engaging with vsaid downwardly projecting portion of said arm.

4. device in accordance with claim 2 and wherein the clip is connected to the board by means of a pivot pin so that the Vboard carrying the blade can be rocked tween projecting end portions of said frame and with which a skirt can be engaged so that Vsaid wire denes a line along which a pleat is to be pressed, and a hinged connection between said frame and said horizontal arm, said connection permitting said frame to be swung downwardly and upwardly so that the wire carried by the frame will be brought into andout of the space existing between the pads Vof-the pressing machine when the top pad is raised. Y Y

6. A device for use with a steam pressing machine in pressing pleats in skirts, comprising a clamp adapted to be secured to the front edge portion of the table ofthe steam pressing machine, a horizontally disposed arm arranged above and supported 'by said "clamp, a' frame This arrangement will give latiarranged above said horizontal arm and having upwardly projecting end portions, a wire stretched between the upper ends of said end portions of the frame and with which a skirt can be engaged so that said wire defines a line along which a pleat is to be pressed, and a clip having one end connected to said frame and the other end hinged to said horizontal arm so that the frame can be swung downwardly and upwardly to bring the wire carried thereby into and out of the space existing between the pads of the pressing machine when the top pad is raised.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 and wherein the clip is connected to the frame by means of a pivot pin so that the frame can be rocked relatively to the clip, means being provided for holding the frame in a selected position relatively to the clip.

8. A device in accordance with claim 6 and wherein the frame includes a longitudinal reinforcing member arranged below the wire, and carries a coiled wire spring extending, in tensioned condition, along one side of said member.

9. A device in accordance with claim 6 and wherein the horizontal arm is mounted adjustably on the clamp.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,231,139 Dickman June 26, 1917 1,594,795 Padgett Aug. 3, 1926 2,714,478 McCusker Aug. 2, 1955 

